NBA Playoffs: Play-in tournament is beginning to take shape

The NBA’s play-in tournament should offer added intrigue to the playoffs.

We’re officially less than a month away from the start of the NBA playoffs. However, before, the NBA has installed a new wrinkle – the play-in tournament. Teams sitting in the 9th and 10th spots in each conference will have one last opportunity to make the postseason.

And with roughly 10 games or less for each team, the play-in tournament field is beginning to take shape. If you’re still iffy on how the play-in tournament will work, here’s the official definition of how the play-in tournament will work according to the league:

"[via NBA.com]"

More from Sir Charles In Charge

"“At the conclusion of the regular season but before the first round of the playoffs, the team with the 7th-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the 8th-highest winning percentage in a Play-In Game (the “Seven-Eight Game”). The winner of the Seven-Eight Game in each conference will earn the No. 7 seed.The team with the 9th-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the 10th-highest winning percentage in the “Nine-Ten Game”. The loser of the Seven-Eight Game will host the winner of the Nine-Ten Game in a Play-In Game, and the winner of that game in each conference will earn the No. 8 seed.”"

The NBA’s play-in tournament field is taking shape

In the Western Conference, we pretty much know that the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State Warriors will likely be participating in the play-in tournament. The final team in the tournament will be between the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers.

Here’s how the standings look in the West at the moment:

6. Dallas Mavericks (34-27)

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7. Portland Trail Blazers (33-28)

8. Memphis Grizzlies (31-29)

9. San Antonio Spurs (31-29)

10. Golden State Warriors (31-31)

It’ll be interesting to see how the final couple of weeks in the regular-season shake out, but with how the play-in tournament is setting up, I’m not sure there’s any team that is going to want to see a red-hot Stephen Curry in a one-game sample.

In the Eastern Conference, it’s a bit more complicated. There are roughly nine teams that could find themselves participating in the play-in tournament. Here are the current standings in the East:

4. New York Knicks (34-28)

5. Atlanta Hawks (34-28)

6. Boston Celtics (32-30)

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7. Miami Heat (32-30)

8. Charlotte Hornets (30-31)

9. Indiana Pacers (29-32)

10. Washington Wizards (27-34)

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11. Chicago Bulls (26-35)

12. Toronto Raptors (26-36)

As you can see, there is still plenty that needs to be sorted out in the East. At the very least, it looks like the Indiana Pacers will be in the play-in tournament. After that, there’s really no guarantee with any of those other teams.

Either way, because of how volatile the East standings have been this season, hopefully, that means we will be in for an intriguing play-in tournament format leading up to the playoffs.

Next. Brooklyn Nets: 5 biggest threats from the Western Conference. dark

The NBA’s play-in tournament is beginning to take shape and there’s no question that it’s going to offer added intrigue and interest leading up to the first round of this year’s playoffs.